ESPN Chucks The Deuce To Hank Williams, Jr. And His Rowdy Friends

You won’t be hearing Hank Williams,Jr., ask “Are you ready for some football?” any longer on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast.

After likening a golf outing by President Obama and John Boehner to a meeting between Hitler and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and referring to President Obama and Vice President Biden as “the enemy,” Williams was yanked from the broadcast on Monday.

Now, ESPN has decided to make that absence permanent. Thursday, the network released the following statement:

We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr. We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.

In a snappy retort, Williams said:

After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision,” he wrote. “By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.

Truth being told, it will be refreshing to hear a new theme song. Will ESPN find one new performer or will they mix it up and give us a variety throughout the season? It might even make sense for them to commission a song that they own the rights to.